Faucet suds dispenser



L. TISDALE FAUCET SUDS DISPENSER Filed April 7, 1958 Oct. 10, 1961 HEL- INVENTOR.

new

United States Patent 3,003,518 FAUCET SUBS DISPENSER Larry Tisdale, 507 Rival-d Blvd, Grosse Pointe 30, Mich. Filed Apr. 7, 1958, Ser. No. 727,002 Claims. (Cl. 137-268) This invention relates to a faucet suds dispenser adapted for attachment to a faucet for mixing a detergent with the water as it flows from the faucet.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved faucet suds dispensers which is adapted for attachment to a faucet.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and may be understood by reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings, which by way of illustration show a preferred embodiment of the invention and what I now consider to be the best mode of applying the principles thereof. Other embodiments of the invention may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of a dispenser embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the dispenser attached to a faucet and looking in the direction of the arrow B of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 1, showing the valve in a position to permit the flow of water from the faucet directly through the dispenser;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

A dispenser embodying the invention comprises a cruciform hollow valve body adapted for attachment to the spout 12 of a faucet, a detergent reservoir 14, a valve member 16, and a knob or handle 18 connected to the valve 16 and disposed on the exterior of the body 10 whereby the valve 16 may be shifted between its various positions.

The arm 20 of the body is externally threaded whereby it may be secured directly to the internal threads of a faucet. However, as shown it is secured by a threaded collar 22 to the external threads on the spout 12.

The body 10 is provided with a water passage 24 therethrough, and a conventional screen 26 may be secured to the body 10 across the lower end of the passage 24 by a collar 28. The rotary valve member 16 extends across the passage 24 intermediate the ends thereof and is journaled in aligned bosses 30 and 32 formed by arms of the body 10.

The valve 16 is provided with a passage or duct 34 therethrough whereby when the valve 16 is disposed as illustrated in FIGURE 3, water may flow directly through the passage 24 without forming suds. A cap 36 is threadedly secured to the boss 32 and provides a means for securing the valve 16 in assembled relation with the body 10. A stem 38 on the valve 1 6 projects through an opening in the cap 36, and the dial or knob 1'8 is secured to the stem 38 by a screw 42 whereby the valve 16 may be shifted between its various positions. A seal 44 is disposed between the end of the boss 32 and the inner end face of the cap 36.

The valve 16 is provided with a duct 46 which extends from the upstream end of the passage 24 into the reservoir 14 and with another duct 48 which extends from the reservoir to the downstream side of the valve member 16. The duct 46 includes a return bend 50, the discharge end of which is spaced from the end of the duct 48 and which discharges water into the duct 48. The bend 50 ice is provided with one or more orifices 52 arranged to discharge a jet of water against a screen 54 which is disposed within the reservoir and divides the space therein into a detergent storage space and a mixing chamber. The reservoir is closed by a cap 56 which when removed permits the detergent storage portion of the reservoir 14 to be charged with a suitable dry soap or detergent 58 in granule, crystal, or powder form, the same being hereafter referred to as a detergent.

In the position as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4, the valve 16 is arranged to obstruct the flow of water directly through the passage 24 and to divert the flow of water through the ducts 46 and 48. The water which escapes from the bend 50 through the orifice 52 will impinge against the screen 54 and the detergent supported thereby, thereby creating a detergent solution in the mixing space within the reservoir 14, which is the space below the screen 54. The detergent solution thus formed will be sucked or entrained into the duct 48 by the stream of water discharged from the return bend 50 into the duct 48. The size of the orifice 52 and the number thereof, as well as the spacing between the end of the return bend 50 and the beginning of the duct 48, will control the rate of formation of the detergent solution and the addition thereof to the water stream which is discharged by the bend 50 into the duct 48.

The boss 30 is threaded into a threaded opening in a reinforced wall portion 60 of the reservoir 14 whereby the reservoir 14 is attached to the valve body 10. The valve 16 is shiftable between the position as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4 and the position as shown in FIG- URE 3. The knob 18 may be provided with a pointer 62 which will indicate to the user the position of the valve. As shown in FIGURE 2, the knob 18 is in the clear or no suds position, whereas when the valve 16 is in a position so as to effect the formation of suds and the addition thereof to the water, the pointer 62 will be in a position either side of that shown in FIGURE 2.

The flow of water through the dispenser is controlled by the usual valve which forms a part of the faucet to which the dispenser is attached. The size of the orifice 52, the number thereof, and the spacing between the bend 50 and the intake of the duct 48 are such that liquid in the reservoir 14 preferably will not rise more than about one-half inch above the bottom of the reservoir 14, thus preventing the detergent thereabove from going into solution.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that this is capable of modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim: 1

1. A suds dispenser for attachment to a faucet, said suds dispenser comprising a valve body having a water passage therethrough, a detergent reservoir having an opening in a wall thereof, said body having a hollow boss disposed in said opening and forming part of a means attaching said reservoir to said body, a two-position rotary valve member extending across said passage intermediate the ends thereof and journaled in said boss, said valve member having a first position in which a bore permits the flow of water directly through said passage, said valve member having a duct extending from one side thereof into said reservoir and another duct extending from said reservoir to the other side of said valve member, said ducts being disposed so that when said valve member is in another position water may flow from said passage on one side of said valve member into said reservoir and hence from said reservoir to said passage on the opposite side of said valve member, said reservoir being adapted to hold a mass of detergent for mixture with the water which flows through said reservoir when said valve member is in its other position, and a handle connected to said valve member and disposed on the exterior of said body for shifting said valve member between its two positions.

2. A suds dispenser according to claim 1 including a screen in said reservoir dividing the same into a detergent storage spaee and a mixing space, said first-mentioned duct including a return bend portion disposed in said mixing space and arranged to discharge into said second-mentioned duct, said return bend portion having an orifice therein arranged to discharge a jet of water against said'screen.

3. A suds dispenser for attachment to a faucet, said dispenser comprising a cruciform hollow valve body having a water passage therethrough, a detergent reservoir having an opening in a wall thereof and attached to said body, one of the arms of said body forming a hollow boss secured in fluid flow relation with respect to said opening, a rotary valve member extending across said passage and journaled in said boss, said valve member having a first position in which a bore permits the flow of water directly through said passage, said valve member having a duct extending from one side thereof into said reservoir and another duct extending from said reservoir to the other side of said valve member, said ducts being disposed so that when said valve member is in another position water may flow from one end of said passage into said reservoir and thence from said reservoir to the other end of said passage, said reservoir being adapted to hold a mass of detergent for mixture with the water which flows through said duets when said valve member is in said other position, and a knob connected to said valve member and disposed on the exterior of said body for shifting said valve member between said positions.

4. A suds dispenser for attachment to a faucet, said suds dispenser comprising a valve body having a water passage therethrough, a detergent reservoir having an opening in a wall thereof and attached to said body, said body having a hollow boss disposed in fluid fiow relation with respect to said opening, a two-position valve member disposed across said passage and in said boss, said valve member having a first position in which a bore permits the flow of water directly through said passage, said valve member having a duct extending from one side thereof into said reservoir and another duct extending from said reservoir to the other side of said valve member, said ducts being disposed so that when said valve member is in another position water may flow from one side of said passage into said reservoir and thence from said reservoir to the other side of said passage, said reservoir being adapted to hold a mass of detergent for mixture with the water which flows through the reservoir when said valve member is in said other position, and a handle connected to said valve member and accessible on the exterior of said body for shifting said valve member between its said positions.

5. A faucet suds dispenser according to claim 4 including a screen in said reservoir dividing the same into a detergent storage space and a mixing space in the bottom of said reservoir which communicates with said ducts, and means associated with one of said ducts arranged to discharge a jet of water against said screen.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

